Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty Operator’s Manual Rear-Tine Tiller — Horse/Big Red WARNING READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. TROY-BILT LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 Printed In USA Form No.
1 To The Owner Thank You Thank you for purchasing a Troy-Bilt Garden Tiller. It was carefully engineered to provide excellent performance when properly operated and maintained. If applicable, the power testing information used to establish the power rating of the engine equipped on this machine can be found at www.opei.org or the engine manufacturer’s web site. Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment.
2 Important Safe Operation Practices WARNING! This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol.
c. When practical, remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle. 11. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the machine for any damage. Repair the damage before starting and operating. d.
9. If the fuel tank has to be drained, do this outdoors. 10. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment. 11. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this product has an Average Useful Life of seven (7) years, or 130 hours of operation.
Safety Symbols This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine before attempting to assemble and operate. Symbol Description READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S) Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and operate WARNING— ROTATING TINES Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts. Contact with the rotating parts can amputate hands and feet.
3 Assembly & Set-Up Contents of Carton • One Tiller • One Handlebar Support • One Handlebar Assembly • One Hardware Pack • One Wheels/Tines PTO Lever • One Operator’s Manual • One Engine Operator’s Manual WARNING! To prevent personal injury or property damage, do not start the engine until all assembly steps are complete and you have read and understand the safety and operating instructions in this manual.
Moving the Tiller off the Shipping Platform 1. 2. Set the Depth Regulator Lever to the “TRAVEL” position. Do this by lifting the tiller by the handlebars, then pulling straight back on the lever and sliding down to the highest notched setting. See Fig. 3-2. Connect the safety wire assembly (green and yellow wires). See Fig. 3-4. Wheel Speed Lever Depth Regulator Lever Figure 3-4 3. Figure 3-2 2. Set the Wheel Speed Lever to the Freewheel position.
Wheels/Tines PTO Drive Lever 4. 1. Loosen the bolt on the handlebar base and swing the handlebars out to the right side. See Fig. 3-1. 2. Remove both sets of nuts, star washers, screws, and one bushing from the yoke plates. See Fig. 3-6. There is a bushing inside the short link. Be careful not to lose it when removing screw. Bushing Yoke Plates Align the rear most holes of the yoke plates and the Wheels/Tines PTO Lever.
6. Pull the Wheels/Tines/PTO Lever back to align the forward most holes in the yoke plate with the holes in the lever plates. Also align the bushing that is inside the short link bar. Install the screw, star washer, and nut, then tighten securely. Securely tighten all other hardware. Also ensure that the spring is properly seated at both ends. Completed assembly should appear as illustrated in Fig. 3-10. 8. To test Reverse, lift and hold the lever all the way up in the Reverse position, then let it go.
Engine Throttle Lever and Cable Electric Start System (If Equipped) For shipping purposes, the throttle cable, together with the throttle lever, is wound around the engine. Carefully unwind the cable. If the throttle control label is covered with a clear protective coating, peel it off. The following steps explain how to install and charge the battery on electric start tillers. For your safety, follow all steps and observe all accompanying safety messages.
3. Use a 5⁄8” long screw and 1⁄4-20 hex nut to connect the positive (+) battery cable to the positive (+) battery post. Make sure that this is the cable on the left side, with one end attached to the solenoid. See Fig 3-14. WARNING! To Avoid Personal Injury or Property Damage: Do not touch the positive battery terminal and any surrounding metal objects with tools, jewelry or other metal items. Failure to comply could cause a short circuit leading to electrical burns or an explosion of battery gases.
4 Controls & Features Handlebar Height Adjustment Lever Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever Forward Interlock Levers Tines/PTO Clutch Lever Depth Regulator Lever Wheel Speed Lever Figure 4-1 Tiller controls and features are described below and illustrated in Tines/PTO Clutch Lever Fig. 4-1. The Tines/PTO Clutch Lever is used to engage or disengage WARNING! Be familiar with all the controls and power to the transmission. their proper operation.
5 Operation Starting the Engine NOTE: If using a PTO stationary attachment, move the Wheel Speed Lever into FREEWHEEL and block the wheels to prevent the equipment from moving. See Fig. 4-1. The following steps describe how to start and stop the engine. NOTE: Do not attempt to engage the tines, wheels, or any PTO attachment until you have read all of the operating instructions in this section. Pre-Start Checklist Make the following checks and perform the following services before starting the engine. 1.
Starting Electric Start Engine with Recoil Starter Engaging the Drive & Tines You may, at some point, have to start an electric start engine with the recoil starter rope. Before attempting to do so, perform the following applicable steps: NOTE: This is a traditional standard-rotating-tine (SRT) tiller with forward rotating tines. It operates in a completely different manner than counter-rotating-tine (CRT) tillers, or from front-tine tillers.
6. When the tiller moves forward, relax and let the wheels power the tiller along while the tines dig. Walk behind and to one side of the tiller. Walk on the side that is not yet tilled. Use a firm grip on the handlebars but keep your arm relaxed. See Fig. 4-3. 4. Lift up the handlebars until the tines are off the ground, then shift the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever all the way up and hold. You do not need to squeeze the Forward Interlock Levers to use reverse. 5.
Choosing Wheel & Tine Speeds The tiller has four FORWARD wheel/tine speed combinations for handling a variety of tilling tasks and gardening jobs. Experiment with the tine depth, engine speed, and wheel/tine speed to determine the combination that provides the best results. Here are some tips: 1. 2. When tilling untilled or hard earth, do not set the Depth Regulator too deep. The tiller will buck and the engine will load down. 3.
Changing Belt From Low Range to High Range 1. To avoid personal injury, shut off the engine, let all moving parts come to a complete stop, then disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug and move the wire away from the spark plug before making any adjustments. Wait for the engine and muffler to cool down. 2. Move the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever into NEUTRAL. 5. Working from the left side of the tiller, work the belt as much as possible onto the top-front engine pulley groove. See Fig. 4-8.
3. Stand on the left side of the tiller. Use your right hand to hold the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever up into REVERSE position. Use your left hand to move the belt off the top-front engine pulley groove to top-rear engine pulley groove. See Fig. 4-9. Clearing the Tines The tines have a self-clearing action which helps to eliminate most tangling of debris. However, occasionally dry grass, stringy stalks or tough vines may become tangled.
Avoid Tilling Wet, Soggy Soil • • Tilling wet soil often results in large, hard clumps of soil that can interfere with planting. If time permits, wait a day or two after heavy rains to allow the soil to dry before tilling. Test the soil by squeezing it into a ball. If it compresses too easily, it is too wet to till. When finished in one direction, make a second pass at a right angle . See Fig. 4-12. Overlap each pass for best results.
• With planning, you can allow enough room between rows to cultivate. Leave room for the hood width, plus enough extra room for future plant growth. See Fig. 4-14. Terrace Gardening: • When a slope is too steep or too short for vertical tilling, it may be necessary to till across the slope and create terraced rows. Terraces are rows that are cut into the side of a slope, creating a narrow, but flat area on which to plant. • On a long slope, you can make several terraces, one below the other.
• Move the belt into LOW belt range and the Wheel Speed Gear Lever to SLOW position. As in terrace gardening, start at the top of the slope and overlap the first pass by half the width of the tiller. For added stability, keep the uphill wheel in the soft, newly tilled soil. Each succeeding terraced area is started by walking below the terrace you are preparing. See Fig. 4-16. • Standing cornstalks of reasonable height can be power composted. See Fig. 4-17.
Tilling Under Corn Removing the Tine Attachment After corn is harvested, the stalks should be tilled into the soil while still green. Dry plants are more difficult to till under, and the roots break loose too easily. 1. Move the tiller to level ground. 2. Be sure the engine is stopped, the electric start key is removed, and the spark plug wire is disconnected and moved away from the spark plug. 3.
8. Then move the swing-out bolts out. See Fig. 4-21. 10. The guide pin on the power unit will slide out of the guide hole in the tine attachment See Fig. 4-23. Guide Pin Mounting Hole Swing-Out Bolt Figure 4-21 NOTE: Loosening swing-out bolts can be difficult. Use an extra-long wrench for leverage. 9. Tip the PTO power machine forward about one inch with one hand while pulling the tine attachment back. Fig. 4-22. Guide Pin Figure 4-23 Installing the Tine Attachment 1.
Moving the Tiller When the engine is running, the tiller’s powered wheels make moving the tiller to and from the garden easy. If the engine is not running, set the Wheel Speed Lever to FREEWHEEL position to roll the tiller to another location. WARNING! To help avoid personal injury from revolving tines, always put the Tines/PTO Clutch Lever in DISENGAGE position before transporting, loading, or unloading tiller. 1. Place the Tines/PTO Clutch Lever in DISENGAGE position. 2.
6 Maintenance & Adjustments Maintenance Schedule After 2-hour Break-In Before Each Use Every 10 Hours Every 25 Hours Every 30 Hours Refer to Engine Manual P P Check Engine Oil Level Clean Engine Cooling System P P P Test Operation of FWD. Interlock Safety System FWD.
Battery Transmission Pulley Mounting Bolt WARNING! When removing the battery, always • disconnect the negative (-) cable first followed by the positive (+) cable. Reverse this procedure when reinstalling the battery. The battery is sealed and is maintenance free. Acid levels cannot be checked. • Always keep the battery cables and terminals clean and free of corrosive build-up.
Rear Bearing Cap Screws Tine Hardware • • The three rear bearing cap screws are located under the depth regulator mounting bracket. If any are loose, it can cause an oil leak or drive shaft end play. See Fig. 6-3. Check the four bolts and nuts securing left and right tine holders to the tine shaft. See Fig. 6-4.
• If tilling during very hot weather, the gear oil may heat up and expand inside the transmissions. To allow for this oil expansion, both the power unit transmission and the tine attachment transmissions have oil relief vents. See Fig. 6-5. 4. Use a 3⁄8” wrench to remove the oil level check plug on the left side of the transmission housing. See Fig. 6-6. Oil Level Check Plug Oil Vents Figure 6-6 Figure 6-5 • The vents allow small amounts of oil to seep out.
For dipsticks With ‘Check Cold’ Marking (Cold means 2 hours have passed since the tiller was used.) 1. Move the tiller to level ground. 2. Pull the Depth Regulator Lever back, then push it down all the way (to engage its top notch). 3. Place a sturdy support under the engine to prevent the tiller from tilting too far. 4. Now slide three pieces of 2” x 4” lumber underneath the drag bar — raising the drag bar about 4-1⁄2” above ground. This elevation allows an accurate “cold” gear oil reading . 5.
3. Using the 3⁄8” wrench, remove the drain plug. The gear oil will drain quite slowly since it is thick. After about two quarts have drained, tilt the tiller forward so any oil at the rear of the transmission will drain out. 4. Clean the drain plug threads, put non-hardening gasket sealant on the threads, and reinstall the plug. 5. Refill the transmission with the correct amount of gear oil before operating the tiller again.
Lubricate the tiller as follows: 1. 8. Oil the wheel shaft between the wheel hubs and the transmission housing. See Fig. 6-10. Keep the PTO access area well-greased. See Fig. 6-11. If the Tines/PTO Clutch Lever becomes hard to move, squirt some oil into its access hole, and work it back and forth to disperse the oil.
How to Measure the Belt Tension 1. a. Before taking a measurement, be sure the linkages and pivot points on the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever are clean and lubricated. If there is any binding, you won’t get true measurements. Also, you’ll need the belt adjustment tool you received with your new tiller. See Fig. 6-12. 5⁄16” 4 7.9 Without moving the clutch roller, try inserting the 1⁄4”-thick, slotted end of the belt adjustment tool in between the roller and the upright bracket.
3. Insert the belt adjustment tool through the hole in the side of the adjustment block, spacing the ends of the tool equally on both sides. See Fig. 6-15. Rotate the tool so the slotted end faces down. 5. Use one hand to hold the drive lever in FORWARD while using a 9⁄16” wrench to loosen — don’t remove — the bolt at the back of the belt adjustment block. See Fig. 6-17. The adjustment block should be free to move either up or down.
1. Measure the width of the outside edge of the disc as shown in Fig. 6-18. Replace the disc before the rubber edge wears to a thickness of 1⁄8” or less. Failure to do so could cause the steel underneath the rubber to damage the transmission pulley. Disc Edge This action compresses the reverse spring and plunger assembly, requiring you to hold the lever up in REVERSE. When you release the lever, the spring automatically pushes the lever back into NEUTRAL position.
3. Use your left hand to hold the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever up in REVERSE, while briefly pulling out the engine recoil starter. The reverse disc should turn the lower pulley. See Fig. 6-21. If not, or it requires a lot of pressure to hold the lever up in REVERSE, then the reverse adjustment bolt must be adjusted downward.
Move the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever to NEUTRAL. The switch body on the bottom of the engine mount tab should be resting squarely on top of the reverse adjustment bolt, and the reverse disc should be at least 3⁄16” away from the transmission drive pulley. See Fig. 6-19. If the reverse disc is any closer than this, raise the reverse adjustment bolt (turn it counterclockwise). Ignition System 7. Check that the reverse disc is at least 3⁄16” away from the transmission drive pulley.
7 Service Belt Replacement 5. Drive Belt 1. Move the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever to NEUTRAL position. 2. While kneeling on the right side of the tiller, create slack in the belt by reaching over to the left side of the pulleys and pushing in on the center of the belt with your finger. 3. Use your right hand to move the belt down and away from the lower pulley, in the direction of the engine. See Fig. 7-1.
9. Push the belt forward then down until it is looped over the lower pulley. See Fig. 7-2. Do not yet seat it in either of the lower pulley’s grooves. 3. NOTE: A blunt object, like a ruler, can help you push the belt downward if needed. 10. Move the top half of the belt up and over the rubber reverse disc, but do not seat it in either of the grooves in the top pulley. 11. Place the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever in NEUTRAL. 12.
If badly worn, they lose the ability to till deeply. Worn tines leave an ever-increasing gap in the middle of a tilled row. The normal gap is 3” between the tine tips — replace the tines when the gap widens to 5”. See Fig. 7-8. The tines can be replaced individually or as a complete set. 5. Use two 9⁄16” wrenches to remove the two bolts and nuts securing the tine to the tine holder plate. See Fig. 7-9. Use penetrating oil on the hardware if it is rusted or hard to remove.
8 Troubleshooting Problem Wheels and tines do not turn Cause Remedy 1. Mis-adjusted drive belt and/or reverse disc 1. See Maintenance & Adjustments Section 2. Loose bolt on transmission drive pulley 2. Tighten bolt 3. Worn worm gears 3. See authorized service dealer Wheels and tines turn on top of ground, but stop or hesitate in soil 1. Loose drive belt 1. Adjust drive belt (See Maintenance & Adjustments Section) 2. Loose bolt on transmission drive pulley 2.
9 Replacement Parts Component Part Number and Description GW-9245 V-Belt 742-04223 742-04224 Bolo Tine (LH), 12” Bolo Tine (RH), 12” 934-04231 Wheel, 16 x 4.6 x 8 756-04171 Reverse Disc 1909286P Throttle Cable Phone (800) 800-7310 to order replacement parts or a complete Parts Manual (have your full model number and serial number ready). Parts Manual downloads are also available free of charge at www.mtdproducts.com.
Notes 10 43
MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR The limited warranty set forth below is given by Troy-Bilt LLC with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States and/or its territories and possessions, and by MTD Products Limited with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in Canada and/ or its territories and possessions (either entity respectively, “TroyBilt”). b. Log splitter pumps, valves, and cylinders have a separate oneyear warranty.
